On a day warm enough to be opening day of the baseball season, skiers hit the slopes Saturday at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton for the beginning of its 69th season.

Four trails were open to skiers, who treated the day as a reunion at a ski area that markets atmosphere as much as altitude.

The first day of the season was a chance for Heather Paul, 23, to drive over from Naples to the slopes she has been skiing for 15 years. “Everyone is so upbeat and friendly,” said Paul about what draws her back each year.

Austin Holt, who tries to ski 80 to 100 days in a season and skis at Shawnee Peak for perhaps 10 to 15 of those days, has been coming to the resort for as many years as Paul.

Holt, who said it was warm enough to be in just a T-shirt at the top of the Pine Slope trail, loves the “local vibe here, everyone knows each other.”

“It’s like going back to school, you get to see people you haven’t seen for a while,” said Sue Wobst, a Naples resident helping skiers on to the dual lift chair headed up the Rabbit Run trail.

Wobst, who works at golf courses in the summer, has worked at Shawnee Peak for 11 years. She is hardly a veteran when compared to Rod Good, who started his 28th year at the resort.

“I enjoy the people I work with and the people who ski here,” said Good, who drives up from Kezar Falls. Good, who taught science at Sacopee Valley High School, has also worked at several area golf courses.

After ownership changes, trail expansions and lift improvements, Good said the constant in his experience has been the friendly skiers, many of whom he and Wobst know by name.

Good and Wobst are two of the 30 to 40 employees who are working this week. By the middle of January, the number of employees approaches 250.

The opening day tradition was also carried on by Kim Plummer of Raymond, who skied with her son, Nathan, 4, while her other son, Ryan, 8, joined them on his snowboard.

Plummer has been skiing at Shawnee Peak since she was a child. Her sons have been skiing since they were about 2 years old, although Ryan prefers a snowboard “because you can do more tricks.”

Melissa Rock, who directs marketing and communications for Shawnee Peak, said the opening was right on schedule, despite spring-like temperatures. Compressors used to make snow are not even available until the Dec. 1, she said.

Snowmakers were not able to work late last week because of warm temperatures at night. Rock said the humidity rising from Moose Pond means temperatures have to drop below 24 degrees for efficient snow making on the mountain.

The storm on Friday, Dec. 8 dropped six inches on the mountain, but Rock said Shawnee Peak relies on man-made snow throughout the season.

“The storm was good to get people thinking about the season, and sell some gift certificates and passes, but natural snow will not get you open anymore,” said Rock.

With the season peaking throughout January and February, Shawnee Peak relies on promotions with radio stations to draw the weekend crowds, but the margin for making money can be slim. Last year, hail on the Martin Luther King holiday weekend kept skiers at home. Losses like that are not easy to recoup in a three-and-a-half month season.

At the same time, Rock said cold weather allowed them to make snow through February, when they usually stop by the end of January. Warm March temperatures brought crowds for spring skiing on sunny days.

Rock said once the holidays have passed, she would survey the hotels, motels and bed-and-breakfasts through the area to get an indication of how the season is shaping up. The resort also rents one of the new condominiums built, a project done by four regulars at Shawnee Peak.

Marc Litif of Standish heads up the mountain with his daughters, Hannah and Rachel, for some late afternoon skiing on opening weekend at Shawnee Peak. For details about opening weekend, see page The opening of Shawnee Peak Saturday drew this happy message in the ski area parking lot.

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